Watching Xu Fang's departing figure, the Crow's Nest Zen Master spoke lightly, "Since the Tathagata has descended, why not reveal yourself for a meeting?"

  No sooner had he spoken than radiant light filled the air, and a divine wheel began to turn. An imposing monk materialized before him.

  It was none other than the Tathagata's avatar!

  "I have failed to welcome the Tathagata's manifestation," the Crow's Nest Zen Master said, maintaining his composure.

  The Tathagata's avatar, undeterred, replied, "Amitabha. If it were not for urgent matters, I would not have manifested my avatar. I am here for the great plan of our Buddha's teachings!"

  “Oh? Please, Tathagata, speak plainly.”

  As the Crow’s Nest spoke, the Tathagata's majestic presence shone brighter, declaring, "In a few hundred years, the eastern transmission of the Buddha's teachings will officially commence. For this great plan, I ask that you remain here to impart a volume of the Heart Sutra to the sutra-collecting team, aiding their tranquility for the journey westward."

  "Since it is the Tathagata's decree regarding the eastern transmission of the Buddha's teachings, I shall certainly comply," the Zen Master replied calmly. "Does the Tathagata have any further matters to discuss?"

  Noting that the Zen Master seemed to be subtly dismissing him, the Tathagata pressed on, "Earlier, as I entered the mountain, I heard a human cultivator refuting the principles of the Spiritual Mountain, spouting nonsense. Why did you not subdue this child, but instead gift him magical artifacts?"

  This inquiry bore an accusatory tone!

  After all, as the Tathagata, he had the authority to question the actions of a fellow monk.

  However, the Crow's Nest Zen Master merely let out a cold laugh.

  In the past, during the calamity of the sealing of the gods, he had transformed into Lu Ya, aligned himself with the Intercept Sect, and aided the forces of Xiqi in slaying the Intercept Sect’s Zhao Gongming.

  Moreover, the Tathagata once held the position of the first disciple of the Intercept Sect, the Precious Treasure Daoist!

  This historical enmity was precisely the root of their discord.

  "The Buddhist teachings encompass the thoughts of all beings. This child’s words allowed me to achieve enlightenment; thus, to forge this karmic bond, I naturally gifted him treasures."

  The Zen Master sneered, "Besides, the Seven-Arrow Head-Nailing Book and the Immortal-Slaying Flying Blade are both mine. To whom I wish to give them is my prerogative!"

  "One word can lead to your enlightenment? If that is the case, this child indeed possesses great wisdom and is worthy of entering my Buddha's teachings!"

  The Tathagata smiled faintly. "In that case, this child is mine to collect."

  "Heh, merely an avatar. Do you truly believe you possess that capability?"

  The Zen Master retorted, "Moreover, this avatar is nothing more than a breath of your essence, possessing merely the cultivation of a Mysterious Immortal. To ferry him would likely prove insufficient!"

  The Tathagata’s avatar did not engage in argument; instead, he smiled calmly. Bathed in Buddha's light, he stepped onto the clouds and departed, his voice echoing, "A mere Mysterious Immortal? Even if it is just a breath, I can easily ferry him across. Besides, my Buddha is compassionate. I will persuade him, not relying solely on cultivation!"

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  "That may not be up to you," the Zen Master murmured, a glint of amusement flashing in his eyes as he watched the Tathagata fade away.

  Through his conversation with Xu Fang, he had come to realize that Xu Fang was not truly inclined towards Buddhism. The Tathagata's desire to convert him was nothing short of a delusion!

  If the Tathagata attempted to force Xu Fang’s conversion, the Immortal-Slaying Flying Blade in Xu Fang's possession was far from powerless!

  Furthermore, Xu Fang was the direct disciple of Master Bodhi. Who would dare to touch him without incurring disaster, save for a saint?

  Of course, he would not inform the Tathagata of this!

  Moreover, the Tathagata had come late and had not heard Xu Fang declare his lineage. Given that Xu Fang was merely a Mysterious Immortal, the Tathagata had little interest in investigating his background.

  If he were to know that Xu Fang was the disciple of Master Bodhi from Mount Fangcun, perhaps he would not be so confident!

  Though the Tathagata was merely an avatar of his breath, his true form was at the quasi-saint level, granting him a level of understanding and mastery over certain spells and techniques that Xu Fang could not hope to match.

  Moreover, Xu Fang was not in a hurry to travel quickly, so it took no more than a brief moment for the Tathagata to catch up to him.

  As the light of the Buddha illuminated the surroundings, a great hall of radiance appeared quietly in front of Xu Fang.

  Unbeknownst to him, the Crow's Nest had just had a verbal spar with the Tathagata’s avatar, nor did he realize that the Tathagata wished to guide him into the Buddha’s teachings. At this moment, he raised his brow and found himself standing before the hall fashioned by the Tathagata.

  "What is this…?"

  Xu Fang frowned slightly. To be honest, he had come to this mountain because he sensed a trace of demonic energy, intending to hone his skills in demon-slaying.

  But he had never expected to stumble upon a Buddha’s hall!

  "Could it be a facade created by a demon?"

  Xu Fang gazed at the faintly ethereal demonic aura, his brow knitting together. Yet, he felt no fear.

  From the intensity of this demonic aura, it was evident that the demon here was at most a True Immortal level!

  "Regardless of what this Buddha’s hall is, let’s try out the Immortal-Slaying Flying Blade first!"

  After pondering for a moment and still unable to comprehend why there was demonic energy alongside a Buddha’s hall, he boldly took out the red gourd and, following the trail of that demonic aura, summoned his treasured artifact!

  The red gourd manifested suddenly, exuding a brilliant light, and a seven-inch-long flying blade emerged from within!

  With that, the blade, now aglow, focused its gaze on the demons lurking within the mountain.

  The demon, caught unawares in its lair, had no inkling of the calamity that had befallen it, and felt its primordial spirit constrict, losing control before reverting to its original form!

  "Turns out to be a Scorpion Spirit!"

  Seeing the Scorpion Spirit's essence being controlled, Xu Fang spoke up, "Please, treasure, turn…"

  Before he could finish, a sudden chant resonated through the air!

  "Amitabha…"

  A monk of radiant countenance appeared, declaring, "Benefactor, all beings possess life. This demon has endured much hardship in its cultivation; why must you annihilate it?"

  It was none other than the Tathagata’s avatar!

  "Monk?"

  Xu Fang looked at the monk before him and, unlike with the Crow's Nest Zen Master, felt an instinctive aversion arise within him.

  "This master greets you," Xu Fang said, though his distaste lingered. However, he was not one to indiscriminately slay innocents. He had investigated the Scorpion Spirit and knew it had harmed countless lives, which was why he had come to exterminate the demon.

  Yet, this monk, while provoking his distaste, had not committed any evident evil—at least, he was unaware of any wrongdoing.

  Thus, he would not act against the monk lightly.

  "What the master says about all beings possessing life is true, yet this Scorpion Spirit has harmed dozens of innocents. Should we overlook its transgressions merely because it has struggled in its cultivation?"

  As soon as Xu Fang finished speaking, the Tathagata's avatar shook his head and replied, "Even if this demon has committed countless sins, if it sincerely wishes to repent, it can still attain the Buddha's merit. This humble monk is willing to ferry her to the Spiritual Mountain, and I hope you will spare her life."

  The monk's voice resonated with power, seeming to carry an irresistible force within it!

  However, Xu Fang remained unfazed, coldly stating, "What if I refuse to spare her?"

  "Amitabha."

  The Tathagata’s avatar declared another Buddhist chant: "Naturally, I do not wish to see you descend into the path of demons by taking a life. If you release this Scorpion Spirit, I can grant you entry into the Spiritual Mountain to attain the status of an Arhat. How does that sound?"

  "Conversely, while the Buddha is compassionate, there are also the methods of the Diamond to subdue demons!"